Welfare StateGCSE Sociology Year 11

Starter Activity What do these words mean to you? Want Ignorance Idleness Disease Squalor

Lesson Objectives know the key features of the welfare

state Understand the factors which lead to

the creation of the welfare state Be able to assess the impact of the

welfare state

Five GiantsBeveridge Report

1942

Want

Ignorance

idleness

Disease

Squalor

Welfare StateThe welfare state

The state takes the responsibility to protect the health and welfare of its citizens and meets their social needs

pensionsbenefits

NHSschoolshousing

A safety net to protect the most venerable in society and to guarantee them adequate income, healthcare, education and housing

Earlier Provision

Free school meals1906

Old age pension1909

Sir William Beveridge viewed his welfare state proposals as ‘defeating five giants’. These included:

• Want (Poverty) • Disease • Ignorance • Squalor (Poor living

conditions)• Idleness

(Unemployment)

Origins

1945 to 1950

Labour landslide victory 1945Implemented the ideas of Beveridge

People would pay insurance contributions whilst they were at work and would be entitled to benefits

Want: New National Insurance Act extended benefits to everyone (1945). Those who were not working could claim unemployment pay for six months. Sick pay could be claimed for as long as you were sick. Disease: The National Health Service Act provided free health care to everyone (1948).

Ignorance: The 1944 Education Act provided free education – Created the tri-partite system (education notes!)

Squalor (Poor living conditions): The Government aimed to provided affordable housing for all through the Town and County Planning Act (1947). Building 1.25 million council houses between 1945 and 1951.

Idleness: The government aimed to make sure that everyone who wanted to work was able to. Marshall Aid plan – road building, infrastructure building projects lead to higher employment.

Task 1- 10 minute task The welfare state today. Use pages 260 to 261 What is provided buy the welfare state

today? What is the difference between

contributory and non-contributory benefits?

Task 2 – 15 minute tasks What do the two main political parties

think about the welfare state?

Use the extracts on page 262 – 263 to summarise the views of the Labour and Conservative parties.

Who else provides welfare?The government is not the only provider of welfare.

Other welfare providers include: -Informal provision from friends, family and neighbours (e.g. caring for young, elderly)Voluntary Sector: these are non-for profit companies and charities who aim to help the socially excluded and those who need it. The private sector: these are profit making business. The government and individuals can purchase benefits and services from them. These can include private hospitals, private schools, medical insurance and private pensions.

The welfare state should be abolished

The family shouldtake care of the

vulnerable – not the state

People on benefits should be made to work for their

payments

The NSH is too Expensive

It can not continueindefinitely

Education shouldbe free

Success?

• Want (poverty): benefits act as a safety net

• Disease: Increase in good health due to free health care provision.

• Education: More young people leaving school with qualifications. More place available at Colleges and Universities.

• Squalor: Old slums demolished• Unemployment: Training opportunities to

help people back into work.

Failure?

Homelessness People still go without what others take for

granted Long hospital waiting lists Some services are too expensive for some

(e.g. dentists) High levels of unemployment Creates a dependency culture May be easier to pretend to be ill and claim

benefits.

Summary task To what extent do you think that the

welfare state has been successful in defeating the “five giants”?